L.A. PARKER: Trenton's tolerance is far too high

There is not much anyone can say twithout being labeled a racist, bigot, Uncle Tom, male chauvinist, uncaring, soft, etc. etc. etc.

We remain lodged in an era of political correctness, afraid to speak our truths for fear of a label, name tag, allegation or any other challenge to our view point.

Below is a perspective derived yesterday after buying my morning coffee at a local McDonaldís.

They were under a white blanket, not a sheet like those that police have draped on 29 city murder victims.

These persons of unfortunate circumstances were asleep on outdoor steps of the New Jersey Transit Center.

If homelessness connects with misery, and misery loves company, then a couple sharing this unsheltered plight must find comfort in that partnership.

They appeared comfortable enough, one completely covered while another could be identified by friends or family.

This is not an edict comparable to former New York Mayor Rudy Giulianiís effort to oust every single down on their luck person from our crosshairs but Trenton can ill afford to allow our homeless brothers and sisters to drop dead asleep on the steps of the train station.

Workers hustling off to their daily j-o-b or travelers from Trenton to another destination should not have to step over or walk by people sleeping under a blanket.

Even worse is that the displaced couple may be the first sight for Trenton visitors. What an unfortunate first or maybe lasting impression.

Homeless or not, this is unacceptable behavior. The fact that New Jersey Transit police did not shake these people awake and read them any sort of rules and regulations suggests toleration.

Toleration pushed us to this point where our young men display their buttocked underwear. Acceptance moved us to this time when black people call each other the N-word without shame. Letting things go edged us to this eve of destruction where murder and mayhem drown us in fear.

Speak on these issues, say whatís needed, then a torrent of retribution follows. Trenton hides from the truth, preferring instead to disappear under all the fan material deflected during a 24-hour period.

I donít know if Mayor Tony Mack is guilty of extortion, bribery or his other federal charges but this capital city needs a new leader. Scratch that. This capital city requires a doctor/mayor with the chutzpah to tell his/her patient that death comes without immediate correction of attitude and behavior.

Trenton has a cancer that metastsizes with every allowed indiscretion whether itís the couple asleep on the New Jersey Transit Centerís steps or weeds that stack in front of abandoned city-owned properties.

However, our train station needs complete protection throughout the transit complex whether it means rousting a couple of sleepers on a step or moving smokers away from an entrance.

This is not a request for an extended no-tolerance edict, but Trenton needs a strict code of behavior even for displaced residents. We do not help those who struggle with addiction and homelessness by bending rules that, if enforced, might encourage positive change.

While Trenton city council members contemplate a safe passage initiative that challenges loiterers, they would be right to pursue legislation that challenges litterers, dumpers, weed growers, and homeowners who fail to maintain their properties.

Whatever we can accomplish legally will help to improve the city of Trenton.

A viewpoint here maintains that this city will cultivate an immediate positive change if our inspections department added several more bodies combined with input from police others who travel our streets.

Police officers could play an integral role in affecting change if they were asked to contact Inspections regarding properties that violate our city ordinances.

This is not a request for police to get out of their vehicles but with those extra eyes, maybe we can get ahead of this cityís depreciation.

First things first, though.Accomplish the obvious by not allowing people to sleep on the New Jersey Transit Center steps.

ó L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@trentonian.com.